Welcome to my blog and the place where I will post my photos and musings from my life as an ultrarunner. My nickname "Shining" was given to me by a group of very special students after I finished my first 100-miler, the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100. They were the inspiration that enabled me to finish this awesome race, and I try to live each day with a "shining" attitude!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Terrapin Mountain 50K

There is nothing I love more than discovering new trails, especially sweet singletrack with gorgeous mountain views. In October I had the pleasure of running on fabulously tough new (for me) trails around the Wild Oak Trail area as part of the Grindstone 100, and yesterday I ran the awesome trail network around Terrapin Mountain, which lies west of Bedford, VA in Sedalia.

RD Clark Zealand resurrected the old Terrapin Half Marathon last year and added a "marathon" which really was more like 50K, so in 2009 he created a new course and made it an official 50K, 31.1 miles with over 7500 feet of climb and descent. The start/finish took place at the Sedalia Center at the base of Terrapin Mountain, and it was a perfect venue with lots of room for camping and the post-race party. Start time was a convenient 7:00am, which meant I could catch my son's lacrosse game Friday night and sleep in my own bed, and drive the 1.5 hours to the start in the morning.

The half-marathon attracted a number of newcomers to trail running and racing---and they sure picked a tough race! The 50K and half-m runners shared the same course, but at mile 5 the 50K ers went on a 17-mile detour away from Terrapin Mountain while the half-m runners headed back to the finish. After climbing up to Camping Gap (AS 3 of the Hellgate 100K), we descended 5 miles straight down before hooking up with the Glenwood Horse Trail and a section of the Hellgate 100K course. I enjoyed seeing this section in the daylight, as I typically run it around 2:00 am in that race! Temps were in the 50s and there was a light fog everywhere---I thought about the runners I know from Oregon and how these conditions were typical for them---perfect for running!

We climbed back up to Camping Gap and continued on the Glenwood Horse Trail before entering a lovely loop section that shares a part of the Promise Land 50K course. This was really fun---runnable climbs and rolling downs in the woods before popping out on the horse trail again and heading back to Camping Gap. In this section we could see other runners and everyone was yelling support to one another--"looking great" and "way to go", etc. Just the positive support we needed before the steep climb up to Terrapin Rocks, an outcropping with incredible views (but not today---too foggy). We punched our number to prove we were there, and then started the descent to Fat Man's Misery, a tight squeeze of rock that rivals those on Old Rag. Another number punch here, and then it was time for the fast, steep, technical downhill to the last AS.

Up to this point in the race, everything had been runnable but now we had a quad busting descent to rocky river bed trail to the AS---yuk! Thankfully this didn't last long, and after the AS we were treated to the best trail of the day: gorgeous singletrack that wound around the side of Terrapin Mountain on the right with beautiful views of farms, lakes and the valley to our left. Since it was all a net downhill, one could really crank up the pace before popping out on the last 2 miles to the finish---and I did! I felt terrific---never a bonk-y moment thanks to regular helpings of Clif Bloks and Nuun. I was very pleased with my time (5:43) given the amount of climb, and feel very ready for Bull Run 50 in three weeks!

Overall, I would give Terrapin 50K an "A" for trail beauty and toughness, great volunteers, nice schwag (Patagucci singlet for the women---a nice change from the ubiquitous T shirt), and post-run fellowship. It was a blast to visit familiar trails from other races and to discover the beauty of Terrapin Mountain in a challenging 50K.

Sophie, You were one tough lady Saturday. Sorry I did not provide you much company, but you were quick on your feet. I did my best to make up those few minutes, but it did not happen. I can certainly tell that you have been concenrating on your climbing. You left me on the climbs and probably squeezed through a little easier than I through Fat Man's Misery. Great run, Rick

"I believe I know who I am standing on top of a mountain, and that I make the best decisions in the heart of the forest." -Jennifer Pharr Davis

It's about the mountains. It's the power and the peace of those old mountains. It is air and sunshine and weather and nature. Daylight and darkness. Wind and water. It's about being part of it rather than just passing through. It's getting closer to where I came from, all the while moving and getting closer to where I want to be. --Alan Gowen

What inspires me

Watching my children grow up

A beautiful mountain trail

Compassion

My students

About Me

I am a 53-year-old mother of three, a full-time school counselor and lacrosse coach, and an ultrarunner who came to love trails after years of racing triathlons and marathons on the roads (ouch!). I am fortunate to live in the most beautiful part of the US (in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains), near my mom, my sisters, and their families. Most importantly, I have a fantastic husband who loves endurance mountain biking and plays a mean guitar, and three kids who keep us hopping!